UTAH WILDERNESS How m uc h is I ef t? For more than a decade, the Utah Wilderness Coalition has been working to preserve the last few million acres of wilderness remaining in Utah. with members the their 155 more than of member groups, the UWC has be tireless of its defense canyon country from encroaching Working development and road building. In congress, legislation that would preserve this land, Americas Red Rock Wilderness Act ( HR 1500 ) continues to gain support, with a record 140 cosponsors in the House and 12 in the Senate. That legislation is based on the work done over 12 years ago by concemced citizens of Utah, who went out onto the land to identify what wilderness was left to save. However, over those years, growth, development, and missuse by off road vehicles have forever changed the land, and the time had come for a fresh look at what remained. For the last two years, the Utah Wilderness Coalition has been conducting the most exhaustive, detailed inventory ever attempted in the United States. The inventory was done for three reasons: (1) to remove any areas which in the ten years since the first inventory was completed had lost their wilderness characteristics; (2) to compile documentation so thorough and complete that no one could credibly claim that the lands within our inventory were unqualified for wilderness designation; and (3) add areas that were omitted the first time around, in orger to make the final inventory more completely represent the spectacular geographic and biological diversity Utah posseses. Draft as of July 8, 1998 Utah Wilderness Coalition citizens reinventory of wilderness on BLM lands Using exacting scientific methodology, over 350 spent more than 20,000 office, and took over the process of completeing criteria and volunteers and staff hours in the field and 40,000 photographs in this reinventoiy. As we expected, tens of primarily around the Moab heavily impacted that they wilderness. However, the identification of millions not included in the thousands of acres, area, have been so no longer qualify as exciting news was the of acres of wilderness previous citizens shows the areas that are inventory. This map included in the new Some highlights of the include: citizens inventoiy. new areas added To receive a copy of the latest SUWA newsletter, which outlines in much more detail the new citizens inventory of Utahs wild lands, as well as a free PROTECT WILD UTAH bumper sticker, please call or write, or visit us on the web. Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance 1471 S 1 100 E Salt Lake City, UT 84105 www.suwa.org 61 Lucas Turner, who worked for SUWA as reinventory coordinator and is responsible for much of the field work One final thought: On July 1 contained in the reinventoiy, was lost to the North Fork of the Payette River in Idaho. Although a young man, he was wise beyond his years, and shared his love of people and the landscape freely. He touched everyone he met, and left them the better for having met. 1, To honor our dear friend, the Utah Wilderness Coalition, and especially the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, dedicate the reinventoiy to Lucas Turner. We will defend it with all the vigor and passion which was Lucas, and in particular the Muddy Creek unit of the San Rafael Swell, a place he knew and loved. At a series of open houses around the country this fall, we will share his work and passion with Americans nationwide. Suns set, spirits dont. Travel well, Lucas. PAID FOR BY THE SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESSALLIANCE Wl .i wmm